Winger's injury boost

West Ham winger Matthew Etherington is on the verge of breaking back into the first team after five months out with injury.

The 26-year-old has been out of the picture with a persistent groin problem, but is now hoping he has put those worries behind him and is looking ahead to the new season after 45minutes in the 3-2 defeat by the MLS All-Stars last Thursday.

West Ham play Peterborough tonight but it is unclear whether Etherington will follow up his run out last week with a match against the Posh, but he is hoping he has turned the corner.

He told the club's website: "It was my first bit of action since the start of February so I was just pleased to be out there to be honest.

"With the current injury I have had, it was probably not the best surface for me to have my first game on but it was good to be out there and I got 45 minutes under my belt.

"It was always the plan for me just to play a half. I am looking forward to the remainder of the pre-season games. I am sure Peterborough will be a tough game, Darren Ferguson has done very well there."